Support for voting-machines.



PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906. C. P. HARRI-NGTON, DECD. n A HARRINGTON, BXEUUTRIX APPLICATION FILED FEBJ. 1905l SUPPORT POR VOTING MACHINES.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.'

ELIZA A. HARRINGTON, OF LYNDHURST, .NEW JERSEY, EXECUTRIX OF CHARLES F. HARRINGrTO` DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO THE DIAL VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF NEIN JERSEY;

SUPPORT FOR VOTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZA A. HARRINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Lyndhurst, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, executrix of the last will and testament of CHARLES F. HARRINGTON, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, declare that the said CHARLES F. HARRINGTON invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Supports for Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to means for storing and supporting voting-machines; and the 0bjeot of the invention is to provide a receptacle in which the voting-machine may be contained when not in use and in which the machine may be easily elevated and supported in position for service. A

The invention is especially designed to serve with a voting-machine of the character set forth in an application for Letters Patent by the same inventor, filed October 10, 1904, Serial No. 227,800.

The invention consists in certain novel fea'- tures and details of construction by which the above objects are attained, to be hereinafter set forth.`

The accompanying' drawings form a part of this specification and show a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the voting-machine and its case or support. Fig. 2 is a corresponding elevation, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, the plane of section being indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The voting-machine A, partly illustrated, is of circular or turret form and may be understood to be of the character shown and described in the above-identified application. A detailed description of its mechanism and operation is not necessary in this application.

R is a box or receptacle, shown as irregularly octagonal, having four long equal sides and four short equal `sides and having inside dimensions large enough to allow the machine to sink therein. On each of the long sides is a vertical guide-rail R0, matching to a notch rin the adjacent edge of a circular baseplate R8, upon which the machine rests. The

plate R8 h'as a central boss R0 on the under face and is formed with radial webs, serving to impart the desired strength and stiffness.

R2 is a centrally located vertical screwshaft, mounted at its lower end in a step R', firmly secured to the bottom of the box or case and having fixed thereon, immediately above the step, a sprocket-wheel R1, on which runs a sprocket-chain R5, also engaged with a sprocket-wheel R11 on a vertical shaft R10, revolving in a step R12, fixed to the bottom of the box, and an arm R13, attached to one of the short sides outside the path of the baseplate in its vertical movementsy in the case. The upper end of the shaft R10 is squared to receive a wrench or crank R7, by which it may be turned and through the sprocketchain R5 the motion communicated to the screw-shaft R2. The latter extends through the boss R0, which is tapped to match thereto. Thus equipped the turninO' of the shaft R10 induces corresponding revolutions of the screw-shaft and causes the machine to rise or sink, as required, guided by the rails R0.

The centrally-located operating-shaft B of the voting-machine is tubular and of a diameter to match to and inclose the screw-shaft R2 and permit the latter to enter freely as the machine is lowered, thus aiding to guide the machine in its rising and sinking movements and also providing space for the screw-shaft.

R14 R11 are horizontally-swinging brackets pivoted to the sides of the box and adapted to be swung beneath the plate R8 when the machine is in the elevated position and support the load, thus relieving the screw-shaft of a portion or all of the weight of the machine. In lowering the latter the screw-shaft is first turned in the direction to elevate the machine further and free the brackets, which are then swung back out of the way. The motion of the screw-shaft is then reversed, and the plate R0, with the machine, sinks within the case and comes to rest on the blocks R15 R15 of sufficient height to prevent contact of the under face of the boss R9 with the sprocket-wheel R1.

The operating-lever G1 of the machine may be removed before the lowering operation, or the handle portion may be separated from the lever to reduce the length.

Any suitable cover (not shown) may be provided for the case, and the latter may be equipped with handles for convenience in transportation.

Modiiications may be made in the forms and proportionsof the receptacle within wide limits, and the location and construction of the guide-rails may be varied. The swinging brackets may be omitted, relying upon the screw-shaft alone to sustain the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A voting-machine receptacle, with inte rior guide-rails, a base-plate having means coperating with said guide-rails, means for raising and lowering said base-plate comprising a central screw-shaft extending axially of said receptacle and engaging a threaded boss on said. base-plate, a shaft parallel with said screw-shaft, means for rotating the same, means for imparting rotary motion to the screw-shaft therefrom, and the aXiallydis posed tubular operating-shaft of the votingmachine inclosing the screw-shaft for guiding the voting-machine in its movements and serving to center the same with relation to screw-threaded boss on said plate receiving said screw-shaft, a drivingeshaft and means for operating it, a sprocket-wheel on each of said shafts, a sprocket-chain for said sprocketwheels, and swinging brackets hinged to said case, adapted to engage said base-plate and support the latter and the machine thereon and blockswithin said receptacle upon the bottom thereof to support the base-plate and voting-machine free of the sprocket-wheels and chain.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIZA A. HARRINGTON,

Emea-trim of the last will and testament 0f- C'zarles F. Harrington, deceased. Witnesses:

HARRY C. HARRINGTON, CHARLES R. SEARLE. 

